Types of Equine Documentation - Horse Sport Ireland

What’s the difference between an Equine Studbook Passport and a Breeding & Production Document?

Question	Equine Studbook Passport	Breeding & Production Document
What are these called/examples?	Studbook passport i.e. (BWP, CP, ISH, KWPN, TB, etc)	ID document, breeding and production document, ‘white book’
What is it?	A detailed passport for pedigree (purebred) horses	A document for horses used for general identification, not for pedigree breeding
Who gets it?	Horses that are officially recognised as purebred by a studbook (a breed registry) Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 and 2016/429	Horses that don’t meet studbook criteria or aren’t used for pedigree breeding. These horses have no specific breed recorded. Do not have a zootechnical certificate.
Who issues it?	A breed society that keeps official records of pedigree horses i.e. (KWPN, BWP, ISH, CP, TB, etc), licensed by competent authority	An entity licensed by the competent authority (in Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine).
What’s in it?	Breed, pedigree (family tree), identity details (microchip, UELN, DNA details); can include classifications, performance history and genetic testing information. Main section; some studbooks have a supplementary section. Defined breeding programme for the breed in question.	Basic identity – does not include a breed the breed is listed as UNK or UNKNOWN, other, etc. Pedigree recording is not required. There is no official breeding programme as it is not a specific breed.
What’s it for?	Breeding high value genetics, conservation of rare lines, breed improvement, addition of value. Proof of the horses’ studbook status.	Used for general identification i.e. for transport or sale– not for specific breeding purposes.
Does it show pedigree?	Yes – it proves the horse’s breed and pedigree information.	No – it doesn’t confirm breed registration in a studbook.
Can it be used for breeding?	Yes – needed if you want the foals to be officially recognised in a studbook and carry a breed code.	No – foals won’t be registered as purebred pedigree even if bred in the identity register.
Can I move from one to another?	Once a horse is entered into a studbook that is its permanent breed. Can be classified in other studbooks for breeding purposes	Depending on the studbook – if it meets studbook inspection requirements, can enter a supplementary section OR if it is pedigree verified to studbook parents (where applicable).
National Breeding services funding eligibility	Yes – in some schemes studbook horses may need to meet other criteria (ownership, performance, classification etc.)	No – not eligible for funding under National Breeding Services ( i.e. schemes, DAFM Studbook Series, Foal Championships, breeding grant prize monies etc.)